Land Use Plan Being Developed
Earl Bradley
Anne Arundel County is developing a General Development Plan (GDP), a
comprehensive land use plan prepared in compliance with state
requirements and guidelines. It establishes policies and
recommendations to guide land use decisions over the 10 to 20 year
planning horizon. The Plan is used by the county in making decisions
about growth and development, land preservation, resource protection,
and the provision of infrastructure and services. It will incorporate
and update the 16 Small Area Plans developed in response to the last
GDP.
To date, efforts have been focused on developing background reports on
a number of topics including land use, water resources (developed in
response to new state legislation), transportation, natural resources,
economic development and revitalization, agricultural preservation, and
fiscal impact analysis.
A primary objective of the 2008 update of the GDP is to provide a solid
growth management plan that will ensure a sound fiscal base for the
county over the planning horizon. To this end, the county has
contracted with a private consultant who will conduct a fiscal impact
analysis to assess the future impacts of various land use scenarios.
The results of this analysis will aid county staff in determining what
additional growth management strategies are needed to accomplish the
countywide goals of balanced growth, preservation, environmental
stewardship, viable communities, and fiscal stability.
Copies of the background reports can be found on the county’s
web page www.aacounty.org.
Completion of a Final Draft Plan is targeted for August 2008. The Final
Draft Plan will be posted on the county’s website for public
review. The document will be presented to the Planning
Advisory Board at a public hearing in the fall of 2008, followed by
introduction of the legislation and public hearings before the County
Council.
The county hopes to have an adopted plan by the end of year 2008.
Questions and comments related to the 2008 GDP may be directed to GDP2008@aacounty.org.
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